Water-closet.



UNITED STATES HENRY o. KRAIow, or DUBUQUE, IowA.

WATER-CLOSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iietters Patent No. 723,612, datedv March24, 1903.

Application filed July 17, 1902. Serial No. 115,986. (No model!) u Toall whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. KRAKOW, a citizen of the United States,residing at Du buque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inWater-Closets; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to water-closets, and contemplates an improvedappliance for ushing the bowl, the object of the improvement being theproduction of a simple, durable, and reliable structure which dispenseswith the usual overhead water-tank.

The nature of the improvement will be readily comprehended, referencebeing had to the following detailed description and to the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating the invention in its preferred form, it beingunderstood that various modifications may be made without departing`from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional View of aiushing appliance embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsectional View on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional viewon line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 denotes a casing having a maincylindrical body 2 the upper and lower ends of which are open andexternally threaded to receive threaded heads, the upper one, 3, beingequipped with an air-chamber 4, and the lower one, 5, havingA a neck 6,a portion of which is reduced and threaded to receive a nut 7. The lowerhead is apertured to slidably receive a piston-stem, presently to bedescribed, the aperture in the neck being enlarged and threaded andreceiving a packingnut 8 to provide a fluid-tight joint around the stem.Near the upper end of the cylinder 2 is an opening 9 for the admissionof water from the supply-pipe. Below the opening is a horizontalpartition 10, having an opening 11, at which is a seat for a ball-valveside oppositeto that inwhich is provided the inlet-opening).Thecylindercommunicates by the opening 14 with a chamber 15, the wallsof which are preferablyformed integrally with the cylinder-wall. At thebottom of the chamber is an opening 16 for the discharge of water to thebowl through a suitable connection. Y The piston-stem 17, which, aspreviously stated, is slidable in the packed opening ofthe lower head 5,is threaded at its upper portion and to it-are secured two pistons, theupper one, 18, loosely fitting the cylinder and the lower one, 19,Iittingthe cylinder closely, being provided witlia leather packing 20.The pistons are separated from each other by the threads on the stem andby a spacing-sleeve 21, which encircles the stem. In the upper end ofthe stem is a socket 22, receiving the lower end of a headed rod 23'. Tothe lowex` end of the stem is pivoted, by means of a pin 24, a lever 25,one end of which is free and is formed to be conveniently grasped by thehaud,and the other endisfulcrnmed,by means of links 26 26, to an arm 27on aring 2S, encircling the neck 6 and confined between the head 5 andnut7. Obviously by loosening the nut 7 the position'ofthe parts may beshifted to enable the-lever to be grasped by either the right orlefthand, the nut, being againtightened.

In an oset 29 of the cylinder-wall is a threaded opening 30, into whichris screwed one end ofan elbow 3l. The elbow, which affordscommunication between the cylinder below the piston 19 2O and thechamber 15, is provided with a ball-valve 32, which normally rests on aseat 33 in the elbow-opening to close the stated communication. Belowthe valve 32 is a controllable air-Vent consisting, preferably, of vascrew 34, inserted in a threaded opening 35 in the elbow and having aslot 36, forming the air-passage, the area of the passage beingcontrolled by adjusting the screw, as will be readily understood.

In the operation of the appliance theparts, which normally assume thelower position, (shown in full lines in Fig. 1,) are elevated by raisingthe handle end of the lever to the position shown in dotted lines insaid figure. In such lowered position of the parts, the extent of whichis limited by a sleeve 37, encir- IOO the opening 11 is checked.

cling the stem 17, the ball-valve 12 is seated, and the flow of waterthrough the cylinder' by Upward movement of the lever, which, aspreviously stated, is accomplished by hand, elevates the stem andpistons, and through the medium of the rod 23 the valve is unseated. Inthe elevated position of the parts the piston 18 contacts with the underside of the partition, closing both openings 11 and 14. The pressure andweight of the water,.together with the weight of the pistons, stem,lever, and valve, operate to depress the parts, andthe openings 11 and14 being thereby uncovered the water passes to the bowl through suchopenings,'

the chamber 15, andthe bowl connection. To retard the downward movementof the valve 12, and thereby enable the propel' volume of water to passto the bowl, the elbow 31, previously described, is provided. This elbowaffords communication between the cylinder below the piston 19 20 andthe outer air through the chamber 15, the bowl connection, and bowl. Theupward movement of the piston 19 20 tends to create a partial vacuum inthe cylinder below it, which is filled byLairentering through the elbow,the incoming airpressnre raising the valve 32 from its seat. In thedownward movement of the piston the valve 32 is forced to its seat andthe air is compelled to escape by the slot-opening in the screw 3l,which opening may be governed in size in the manner stated to regulatethe discharge of the air, and consequently the length of time before theball-valve is seated. By this means the movement of the parts may bereadily cont-rolled to eiect a greater or less discharge of water, andthis regardless of different pressures in water-mains.

It will be noted that all of the parts, including the air-vent elbow,are arranged within the casing, thereby preventing leakage.

The appliance is very simple in construction, and hence may beinexpensively produced and is not liable to disorder. The construction,moreover, s compact and sightly,

and, as before stated, it dispenses with.A the usual unsightly overheadtank.

I claim as my invention- 1. A iiushing appliance for water-closets andthe like, consisting of a casing having toward its upper end awater-inlet, an opening with a valve-seat below said inlet and awater-discharge passage leading from below said opening, a gravity-valveat said opening, an impact-piston having means for engaging said valveand movable to said opening to unseat saidyalve, a piston connected tothe impactpiston, a fluid-chamber in which said piston moves, hand meansfor elevating the pistons, a combined inlet and exhaust passage betweenthe fluid-chamber and water-discharge passage, a gravity inlet-valve insaid passage and a restricted controllable outlet below saidinlet-valve.

2. A flushing appliance for water-closets and the like, consisting of acasing having at its upper end an air-chamber and toward said upper enda water-inlet and having below said water-inlet an opening with avalve-seat and below said opening a water-outlet communieating with awater-discharge passage, a gravity-valve at said opening, animpact-piston having means for engaging said valve and movable to saidopening to unseat said valve, a piston connected to the impact-piston, aduid-chamber in which said piston moves, an elbow affording a combinedinlet and exhaust passage between the fluid-chamber and water-dischargepassage, a gravity inlet-valve in said elbow, a restricted controllableoutlet in said elbow below the valve, a stem depending from the piston,a lever pivoted to the stern, and a fulcrnm-piece for the levershiftable to position the lever for right or left hand use.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY O. KRAKOW. l/Vitnesses:

W. S. NORTON, F. L. BRowNE.

